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Hurkman · 01-14-2008, 03:24 PM

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Minnesota Vikings (11-2-1) vs. Washington Redskins(10-4)
Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN

Once again, the Minnesota Vikings found themselves in a familiar position. For the eighth time in nine years, they had won the NFC Central division and were in the playoffs. While they had yet to win a Super Bowl during their run of success, they were sure that their time was coming. Fran Tarkenton wasn't getting any younger at quarterback, however, he still had young Chuck Foreman and Sammy White to lead the way on offense, while the defense allowed just under 13 points a game. On the other side, the Washington Redskins clinched the wild card position in the NFC and had an even older quarterback in Billy Kilmer. They compensated for this with a dual running threat of Mike Thomas and John Riggins, while Joe Lavender was third in the NFL with eight interceptions on the season.

At the start of the game, it was the playoff experience and poise of the Minnesota Vikings that seemed to lead the way. After the opening kickoff, the Vikings held onto the ball for the first eight minutes of the game. Foreman and fullback Brent McClanahan pounded on the Washington defensive front, and Tarkenton was given time to find receivers Sammy White and Ahamd Rashad for big chunks of yards. The Redskins did manage to hold in the end, keeping the Vikings out of the end zone once they got inside the 10 yard line, but Fred Cox's 21 yard kick was good enough to give the Vikings the early lead. It would not take long for the Redskins to respond, and they did so through the air. The seemingly ageless Billy Kilmer was perfect on Washington's drive, going three for three with the biggest blow being a 49 yard strike to Frank Grant. Two plays later, Jean Fugett came down with a 10 yard touchdown pass, and the Redskins were on top 7-3.

At the end of the first quarter, the Vikings seemed to be knocking on the door once again, and as the second quarter started, they kicked it down. After being held in check for portions of the opening period, Chuck Foreman broke lose a 23 yard touchdown run on the third play of the new quarter. The Vikings now led 10-7, and lead was only going to get bigger. On the first Washington play of the quarter, Kilmer was intercepted by Nate Wright at the Redskin 26 yard line. Two plays later, Tarkenton found Rashad on a twenty yard pass into the end zone, giving the Vikings a ten point lead. While the Redskins could have just rolled over and died following a quick 14 point surge, they did not. They moved down the field quickly on their next drive, including converting a seemingly impossible third and 18 play. John Riggins then bullied his way into the end zone to finish off the six minute, 10 play drive that cut the Minnesota lead to three points. After that, both teams finally were able to put a stop to the other, and the score remained 17-14 in favor of the Vikings at the half.

Washington was unable to move the ball on their first possession of the second half, but Fran Tarkenton knew he needed more points to put away the pesky Redskins, and began leading his team down the field once more. By the time the Redskins had put a halt to the drive, the Vikings were once again in field goal range. However, Cox missed a 40 yard kick, and the Redskins were given new life again. With the ball and good field position, Washington used a short and steady passing and running game to slowly chip away at the Minnesota defense. With the Vikings now weakening, Kilmer struck, hitting Frank Grant with a 35 yard stirke, to put the Redskins deep into Minnesota territory. The Vikings held from there, however, and the Redskins settled for a Mark Moseley 38 yard field goal that tied the score at 17.

The fourth quarter began much the way the third quarter had. Tarkenton was again leading the Vikings down the field, using both Foreman and McClanahan to force the Redskins to keep the linebackers close to the line of scrimmage, then passing over top of them on key third down conversions. However, the drive stalled just outside the 10 yard line, and this time, Cox converted a 29 yard kick to give the Vikings the lead back. When Kilmer was intercepted on the next Washington drive, it appeared as if the Vikings would hold on and win. Sure enough, the Vikings got into field goal range again, but this time, Cox missed on a 41 yard attempt that would have forced the Redskins to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Inspired by the missed field goal, the Redskins tore a hole in the Vikings front seven. Mike Thomas and John Riggins broke free for a total of 57 yards on the most important Washington drive of the season, and Mark Moseley nailed a 37 yard field goal with a minute and a half left to tie the game. The Vikings were content to run out the clock, and this game was headed for overtime.

In the overtime, it was Washington that would get the first chance to score, as their punt return team brought Minnesota's punt to midfield. The Redskins would stall at the Minnesota 24, and Moseley missed the 41 yard attempt, keeping the Vikings in the game. The Vikings would march down the field on their next drive, led by Brent McClanahan and his 20 yard run up the middle. The Redskins were able to stop the Vikings at the 13 yard line, but Fred Cox was well within his range. However, the snap on the 30 yard field goal attempt was low, and the Vikings missed a perfect chance to end the game. Washington would make them regret their mistake, as they marched down the field once again. After a 14 yard gain on third and 17, Moseley was brought out to try a 48 yard field goal. The kick just cleared the front crossbar, and the Washington Redskins had shocked the Vikings in overtime, leaving Minnesota to again wonder what could have been.

Final Score: Washington-23 Minnesota-20/OT

Real Life Score: Minnesota-35 Washington-20

Dallas Cowboys (11-3) vs. Los Angeles Rams (10-3-1)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

After last season's defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys were more than ready to make an impact against the Los Angeles Rams. Roger Staubach had a solid, if unspectacular, season, while running backs Doug Dennison, Robert Newhouse and Scott Laidlaw headed a good Dallas running attack. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams were still having issues at quarterback after the defeat in Super Bowl X, with James Harris getting the starting nod for the playoffs. Meanwhile, running back Lawrence McCutcheon was attempting to remove the demons that had plagued him during the last two playoff seasons for the Rams.

The game could not have started out any better for the Cowboys. Following three straight Harris incompletions, Dallas returned the Ram punt to the Los Angeles 27 yard line. From there, the three headed running attack of Dennison, Newhouse and Laidlaw struck quickly, moving their way downfield before Laidlaw finished the drive with a one yard touchdown plunge, giving Dallas an early 7-0 lead. With confidence now on their side, Dallas again forced a Los Angeles punt and again drove down the field, this time using the arm of Staubach and the legs of Dennison to move into field goal range. Efren Herrera's 22 yard field goal was good, giving the Cowboys 10 points on their first two drives.

Games are not won in the first quarter, however, and the Rams were sure to remind Dallas of that the next time they touched the ball. Both Harris and McCutcheon began hitting their strides, and Harris connected with John Cappelletti for a 16 yard touchdown to cap a 15 play, seven minute drive that cut the lead to 10-7. When Staubach was intercepted on the Cowboys' first play, their tired defense had to go back on the field. However, they managed to stop the Ram offense on three straight plays, and Tom Dempsey missed a 46 yard field goal that would have tied the game. Neither team was then able to move the ball until late in the first half, when Dallas again benefitted from a good punt return. Starting at the Los Angeles 39, the Cowboys made it down to the 12 yard line with just nine seconds to play in the half. Herrera's kick was good, and Dallas took a 13-7 lead into the half.

The entire second half could be best described as a defensive struggle. The Cowboys seemed to be unable to move the ball almost the entire second half, while the Rams let key chances slip through their fingers. Dempsey missed a field goal on Los Angeles' first possession of the half, and while Dallas could not even get into Ram territory, the Rams were not putting any points on the board themselves. The fourth quarter started with a Demspey 29 yard field goal to cut the score to 13-10, and after another Dallas punt, Los Angeles began driving down the field once again on the arm of Harris. After an eight yard completion gave the Rams a first and goal to go at the Dallas one yard line, the Cowboy defense found another gear, stopping the Rams four straight times on runs right up the middle of the field. Both McCutcheon and John Cappelletti had two chances, and neither one gained more than six inches on any carry. While the Cowboys would have to punt on the ensuing possession, just stopping the Rams on a dramatic goal line stand was enough.

It was a good thing the Cowboys stopped the Rams on that possession, because the Rams moved right down the field again on their next one as the clock slowly began to run out. Once again, Harris got the Rams inside to Dallas ten yard line, but once again, Dallas' defense stood tall, stopping the Rams three straight times at the five yard line. This time, however, Dempsey came into the game and booted a tying field goal with just 43 seconds remaining. Demoralized at losing their lead, Dallas ran out the clock and sent the game into overtime.

The Cowboys got the ball to start the overtime, and they quickly moved down the field, to the shock of the now confident Ram defense. The Rams eventually stood tough though, and forced Efren Herrera to try a 48 yard kick. The attempt sailed wide, giving the Rams a shot to score and end the game. They then quickly moved down the field, with Harris proving his worth as a starting quarterback by quiding the Rams down to the Dallas 27 yard line. From there, Lawrence McCutcheon burst ahead for 15 yards, but as he was tackled, he lost the football and Dallas recovered at their own seven yard line. It would be the last time the Rams would have the ball.

With new life, Staubach guided the Cowboys down the field with all the poise and skills of a true field general. When the passing game stopped working, he simply handed it off to one of his three backs, and when that stopped, he threw the ball over the heads of the Ram defenders to now open receivers. In the end, the Cowboys had to settle for a Efren Herrera 22 yard field goal, but that was enough to win them the game and send them to another NFC Championship. For McCutcheon and the Rams, it was another heartbreaking loss.

Final Score: Dallas-16 Los Angeles-13/OT

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-14 Dallas-12

NFC Championship Game

Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

Dallas Cowboys (11-3) vs. Washington Redskins(10-4)

Two heated NFC East rivals clashed for the right to go to Super Bowl XI and face the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the Dallas Cowboys, it was a chance to prove that they still belonged in the same breath as teams like the Steelers and Raiders, while for the Redskins, it was a chance to show that they were one of the better teams in football.

On this day, however, only one team could stand, and it became obvious from the start who that would be. Dallas took the opening kickoff and marched down the field against the Redskins, picking up 59 yards on their first three plays. While they would not score a touchdown, Efren Herrera did hit a 30 yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead. The Redskins were forced to punt after three plays, and Dallas moved downfield again on the arm of Staubach. Though they again had to settle for a Efren Herrera field goal, the tone of the game had been set. Washington's next two possessions ended in a fumble by Kilmer and a blocked punt that Dallas recovered at the Redskin eight yard line early in the second quarter. Staubach this time found Drew Pearson in the end zone, giving the Cowboys a 13-0 lead.

The Cowboy dominance continued throughout the second quarter. After forcing another Redskin punt, Dallas moved down the field once again. Doug Dennison caught his only pass of the game, but it went for 34 yards, and set up another Staubach touchdown, this one to Billy Joe Dupree that made the score 20-0. It was then that the Redskins finally decided to wake up, and they did so in a hurry. Kilmer finally started finding open receivers, and Mike Thomas began to see running lanes that weren't there for most of the first half. On a third and 18, Kilmer found Frank Grant for 19 yards and a touchdown with just 30 seconds to go in the half. Suddenly, as the first half ended, momentum seemed to be swinging back towards the Washington Redskins.

That momentum clearly had an effect on the Redskins as they came out for the second half, because just three plays after the kickoff, Mike Thomas came through with a 31 yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 20-14. Thomas had two carries on the drive for a total of 57 yards, which was more than he had gained the entire first half. After a Dallas punt, Thomas and Kilmer moved the Redskins again, this time settling for a field goal that would make the score 20-17, and all of a sudden, Dallas fans began to sweat. Their worries were unfounded, however, as Dallas quickly regained their dominance that they had throughout the first half. Their next possession lasted for 14 plays and nine minutes. It ended in the fourth quarter with a Doug Dennison one yard touchdown run that made the lead 27-17. Three plays later, Charlie Waters picked off Kilmer, and four plays after that, Staubach found Preston Pearson for an 11 yard touchdown. With the lead back up to 17 points, the Redkins were completely deflated. They were stopped on four downs on their next possession, and would never see the ball again, as Dallas used its running backs to control the last seven minutes of the game, and earn the right to face Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XI.

Final Score: Dallas-34 Washington-17

Real Life Score: Minnesota-24 Los Angeles-13 (In Minnesota)

01-14-2008, 03:24 PM	#66 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	1976 NFC Playoffs: The Steelers are waiting, will anyone stop them? NFC Divisional Playoffs Minnesota Vikings (11-2-1) vs. Washington Redskins(10-4) Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN Once again, the Minnesota Vikings found themselves in a familiar position. For the eighth time in nine years, they had won the NFC Central division and were in the playoffs. While they had yet to win a Super Bowl during their run of success, they were sure that their time was coming. Fran Tarkenton wasn't getting any younger at quarterback, however, he still had young Chuck Foreman and Sammy White to lead the way on offense, while the defense allowed just under 13 points a game. On the other side, the Washington Redskins clinched the wild card position in the NFC and had an even older quarterback in Billy Kilmer. They compensated for this with a dual running threat of Mike Thomas and John Riggins, while Joe Lavender was third in the NFL with eight interceptions on the season. At the start of the game, it was the playoff experience and poise of the Minnesota Vikings that seemed to lead the way. After the opening kickoff, the Vikings held onto the ball for the first eight minutes of the game. Foreman and fullback Brent McClanahan pounded on the Washington defensive front, and Tarkenton was given time to find receivers Sammy White and Ahamd Rashad for big chunks of yards. The Redskins did manage to hold in the end, keeping the Vikings out of the end zone once they got inside the 10 yard line, but Fred Cox's 21 yard kick was good enough to give the Vikings the early lead. It would not take long for the Redskins to respond, and they did so through the air. The seemingly ageless Billy Kilmer was perfect on Washington's drive, going three for three with the biggest blow being a 49 yard strike to Frank Grant. Two plays later, Jean Fugett came down with a 10 yard touchdown pass, and the Redskins were on top 7-3. At the end of the first quarter, the Vikings seemed to be knocking on the door once again, and as the second quarter started, they kicked it down. After being held in check for portions of the opening period, Chuck Foreman broke lose a 23 yard touchdown run on the third play of the new quarter. The Vikings now led 10-7, and lead was only going to get bigger. On the first Washington play of the quarter, Kilmer was intercepted by Nate Wright at the Redskin 26 yard line. Two plays later, Tarkenton found Rashad on a twenty yard pass into the end zone, giving the Vikings a ten point lead. While the Redskins could have just rolled over and died following a quick 14 point surge, they did not. They moved down the field quickly on their next drive, including converting a seemingly impossible third and 18 play. John Riggins then bullied his way into the end zone to finish off the six minute, 10 play drive that cut the Minnesota lead to three points. After that, both teams finally were able to put a stop to the other, and the score remained 17-14 in favor of the Vikings at the half. Washington was unable to move the ball on their first possession of the second half, but Fran Tarkenton knew he needed more points to put away the pesky Redskins, and began leading his team down the field once more. By the time the Redskins had put a halt to the drive, the Vikings were once again in field goal range. However, Cox missed a 40 yard kick, and the Redskins were given new life again. With the ball and good field position, Washington used a short and steady passing and running game to slowly chip away at the Minnesota defense. With the Vikings now weakening, Kilmer struck, hitting Frank Grant with a 35 yard stirke, to put the Redskins deep into Minnesota territory. The Vikings held from there, however, and the Redskins settled for a Mark Moseley 38 yard field goal that tied the score at 17. The fourth quarter began much the way the third quarter had. Tarkenton was again leading the Vikings down the field, using both Foreman and McClanahan to force the Redskins to keep the linebackers close to the line of scrimmage, then passing over top of them on key third down conversions. However, the drive stalled just outside the 10 yard line, and this time, Cox converted a 29 yard kick to give the Vikings the lead back. When Kilmer was intercepted on the next Washington drive, it appeared as if the Vikings would hold on and win. Sure enough, the Vikings got into field goal range again, but this time, Cox missed on a 41 yard attempt that would have forced the Redskins to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Inspired by the missed field goal, the Redskins tore a hole in the Vikings front seven. Mike Thomas and John Riggins broke free for a total of 57 yards on the most important Washington drive of the season, and Mark Moseley nailed a 37 yard field goal with a minute and a half left to tie the game. The Vikings were content to run out the clock, and this game was headed for overtime. In the overtime, it was Washington that would get the first chance to score, as their punt return team brought Minnesota's punt to midfield. The Redskins would stall at the Minnesota 24, and Moseley missed the 41 yard attempt, keeping the Vikings in the game. The Vikings would march down the field on their next drive, led by Brent McClanahan and his 20 yard run up the middle. The Redskins were able to stop the Vikings at the 13 yard line, but Fred Cox was well within his range. However, the snap on the 30 yard field goal attempt was low, and the Vikings missed a perfect chance to end the game. Washington would make them regret their mistake, as they marched down the field once again. After a 14 yard gain on third and 17, Moseley was brought out to try a 48 yard field goal. The kick just cleared the front crossbar, and the Washington Redskins had shocked the Vikings in overtime, leaving Minnesota to again wonder what could have been. Final Score: Washington-23 Minnesota-20/OT Real Life Score: Minnesota-35 Washington-20 Dallas Cowboys (11-3) vs. Los Angeles Rams (10-3-1) Texas Stadium, Irving, TX After last season's defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys were more than ready to make an impact against the Los Angeles Rams. Roger Staubach had a solid, if unspectacular, season, while running backs Doug Dennison, Robert Newhouse and Scott Laidlaw headed a good Dallas running attack. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams were still having issues at quarterback after the defeat in Super Bowl X, with James Harris getting the starting nod for the playoffs. Meanwhile, running back Lawrence McCutcheon was attempting to remove the demons that had plagued him during the last two playoff seasons for the Rams. The game could not have started out any better for the Cowboys. Following three straight Harris incompletions, Dallas returned the Ram punt to the Los Angeles 27 yard line. From there, the three headed running attack of Dennison, Newhouse and Laidlaw struck quickly, moving their way downfield before Laidlaw finished the drive with a one yard touchdown plunge, giving Dallas an early 7-0 lead. With confidence now on their side, Dallas again forced a Los Angeles punt and again drove down the field, this time using the arm of Staubach and the legs of Dennison to move into field goal range. Efren Herrera's 22 yard field goal was good, giving the Cowboys 10 points on their first two drives. Games are not won in the first quarter, however, and the Rams were sure to remind Dallas of that the next time they touched the ball. Both Harris and McCutcheon began hitting their strides, and Harris connected with John Cappelletti for a 16 yard touchdown to cap a 15 play, seven minute drive that cut the lead to 10-7. When Staubach was intercepted on the Cowboys' first play, their tired defense had to go back on the field. However, they managed to stop the Ram offense on three straight plays, and Tom Dempsey missed a 46 yard field goal that would have tied the game. Neither team was then able to move the ball until late in the first half, when Dallas again benefitted from a good punt return. Starting at the Los Angeles 39, the Cowboys made it down to the 12 yard line with just nine seconds to play in the half. Herrera's kick was good, and Dallas took a 13-7 lead into the half. The entire second half could be best described as a defensive struggle. The Cowboys seemed to be unable to move the ball almost the entire second half, while the Rams let key chances slip through their fingers. Dempsey missed a field goal on Los Angeles' first possession of the half, and while Dallas could not even get into Ram territory, the Rams were not putting any points on the board themselves. The fourth quarter started with a Demspey 29 yard field goal to cut the score to 13-10, and after another Dallas punt, Los Angeles began driving down the field once again on the arm of Harris. After an eight yard completion gave the Rams a first and goal to go at the Dallas one yard line, the Cowboy defense found another gear, stopping the Rams four straight times on runs right up the middle of the field. Both McCutcheon and John Cappelletti had two chances, and neither one gained more than six inches on any carry. While the Cowboys would have to punt on the ensuing possession, just stopping the Rams on a dramatic goal line stand was enough. It was a good thing the Cowboys stopped the Rams on that possession, because the Rams moved right down the field again on their next one as the clock slowly began to run out. Once again, Harris got the Rams inside to Dallas ten yard line, but once again, Dallas' defense stood tall, stopping the Rams three straight times at the five yard line. This time, however, Dempsey came into the game and booted a tying field goal with just 43 seconds remaining. Demoralized at losing their lead, Dallas ran out the clock and sent the game into overtime. The Cowboys got the ball to start the overtime, and they quickly moved down the field, to the shock of the now confident Ram defense. The Rams eventually stood tough though, and forced Efren Herrera to try a 48 yard kick. The attempt sailed wide, giving the Rams a shot to score and end the game. They then quickly moved down the field, with Harris proving his worth as a starting quarterback by quiding the Rams down to the Dallas 27 yard line. From there, Lawrence McCutcheon burst ahead for 15 yards, but as he was tackled, he lost the football and Dallas recovered at their own seven yard line. It would be the last time the Rams would have the ball. With new life, Staubach guided the Cowboys down the field with all the poise and skills of a true field general. When the passing game stopped working, he simply handed it off to one of his three backs, and when that stopped, he threw the ball over the heads of the Ram defenders to now open receivers. In the end, the Cowboys had to settle for a Efren Herrera 22 yard field goal, but that was enough to win them the game and send them to another NFC Championship. For McCutcheon and the Rams, it was another heartbreaking loss. Final Score: Dallas-16 Los Angeles-13/OT Real Life Score: Los Angeles-14 Dallas-12 NFC Championship Game Texas Stadium, Irving, TX Dallas Cowboys (11-3) vs. Washington Redskins(10-4) Two heated NFC East rivals clashed for the right to go to Super Bowl XI and face the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the Dallas Cowboys, it was a chance to prove that they still belonged in the same breath as teams like the Steelers and Raiders, while for the Redskins, it was a chance to show that they were one of the better teams in football. On this day, however, only one team could stand, and it became obvious from the start who that would be. Dallas took the opening kickoff and marched down the field against the Redskins, picking up 59 yards on their first three plays. While they would not score a touchdown, Efren Herrera did hit a 30 yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead. The Redskins were forced to punt after three plays, and Dallas moved downfield again on the arm of Staubach. Though they again had to settle for a Efren Herrera field goal, the tone of the game had been set. Washington's next two possessions ended in a fumble by Kilmer and a blocked punt that Dallas recovered at the Redskin eight yard line early in the second quarter. Staubach this time found Drew Pearson in the end zone, giving the Cowboys a 13-0 lead. The Cowboy dominance continued throughout the second quarter. After forcing another Redskin punt, Dallas moved down the field once again. Doug Dennison caught his only pass of the game, but it went for 34 yards, and set up another Staubach touchdown, this one to Billy Joe Dupree that made the score 20-0. It was then that the Redskins finally decided to wake up, and they did so in a hurry. Kilmer finally started finding open receivers, and Mike Thomas began to see running lanes that weren't there for most of the first half. On a third and 18, Kilmer found Frank Grant for 19 yards and a touchdown with just 30 seconds to go in the half. Suddenly, as the first half ended, momentum seemed to be swinging back towards the Washington Redskins. That momentum clearly had an effect on the Redskins as they came out for the second half, because just three plays after the kickoff, Mike Thomas came through with a 31 yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 20-14. Thomas had two carries on the drive for a total of 57 yards, which was more than he had gained the entire first half. After a Dallas punt, Thomas and Kilmer moved the Redskins again, this time settling for a field goal that would make the score 20-17, and all of a sudden, Dallas fans began to sweat. Their worries were unfounded, however, as Dallas quickly regained their dominance that they had throughout the first half. Their next possession lasted for 14 plays and nine minutes. It ended in the fourth quarter with a Doug Dennison one yard touchdown run that made the lead 27-17. Three plays later, Charlie Waters picked off Kilmer, and four plays after that, Staubach found Preston Pearson for an 11 yard touchdown. With the lead back up to 17 points, the Redkins were completely deflated. They were stopped on four downs on their next possession, and would never see the ball again, as Dallas used its running backs to control the last seven minutes of the game, and earn the right to face Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XI. Final Score: Dallas-34 Washington-17 Real Life Score: Minnesota-24 Los Angeles-13 (In Minnesota)